An improved delinking feeder receives a belt of linked cartridges, separates cartridges from the belt, and feeds the separated cartridges to a minigun for firing. The delinking feeder includes a feeder sprocket with a plurality of slots extending outward to an open end at an outer edge of the feeder sprocket body. Each of the slots is disposed along a curve. The curve decelerates a cartridge disposed in the slot as the cartridge moves outwardly in the slot. A feeder shaft is adapted to hold the feeder sprocket and a stripper. The shaft includes a section having a plurality of exterior splines, and the feeder sprocket includes an axial hole having a plurality of interior splines configured to mate with the plurality of shaft exterior splines. The stripper sleeve includes an axial hole having a plurality of interior splines configured to mate with the plurality of shaft exterior splines.

An improved delinking feeder receives a belt of linked cartridges, separates cartridges from the belt, and feeds the separated cartridges to a minigun for firing. The delinking feeder includes a feeder sprocket with a plurality of slots extending outward to an open end at an outer edge of the feeder sprocket body. Each of the slots is disposed along a curve. The curve decelerates a cartridge disposed in the slot as the cartridge moves outwardly in the slot. A feeder shaft is adapted to hold the feeder sprocket and a stripper. The shaft includes a section having a plurality of exterior splines, and the feeder sprocket includes an axial hole having a plurality of interior splines configured to mate with the plurality of shaft exterior splines. The stripper sleeve includes an axial hole having a plurality of interior splines configured to mate with the plurality of shaft exterior splines.

A method of feeding rounds of linked, or un-linked, ammunition to a gun includes a motor-driven chain drive which rotates about a track. A rotatable feeder engages the ammunition to feed an ammunition round into a round extractor/retractor. A rotatable round positioner receives an ammunition round from the round extractor/retractor, and rotates it to a firing position. A main geneva wheel, mounted near the chain drive, is sequentially engaged by first and second drive rollers, secured to the chain drive, for being periodically rotated thereby. Drive pins of the main geneva wheel sequentially engage radial slots in a belt/round feed geneva wheel and a round positioning geneva wheel for timed rotation thereof to synchronize the operation of the round feeder and round positioner.

A method of feeding rounds of linked, or un-linked, ammunition to a gun includes a motor-driven chain drive which rotates about a track. A rotatable feeder engages the ammunition to feed an ammunition round into a round extractor/retractor. A rotatable round positioner receives an ammunition round from the round extractor/retractor, and rotates it to a firing position. A main geneva wheel, mounted near the chain drive, is sequentially engaged by first and second drive rollers, secured to the chain drive, for being periodically rotated thereby. Drive pins of the main geneva wheel sequentially engage radial slots in a belt/round feed geneva wheel and a round positioning geneva wheel for timed rotation thereof to synchronize the operation of the round feeder and round positioner.

A compact 50 caliber machine gun system which utilizes an original Browning rear-stripping ammunition link design. The chain-driven machine gun system features a delinker assembly configured to receive a belt of linked cartridges, separate each of the cartridge from the belt rearwardly, and feed each of the cartridges for firing. The delinking function is separated from the motion of the bolt assembly so as to reduce the overall length of the gun system. The receiver has a receiver mounting length RML from the rear base of each incoming cartridge in a belt of connected links to the rear end of the receiver that is less than 15 inches. A shuttle feed system is incorporated into the basic chain gun style mechanism which had been limited to a sprocket feed on all previous designs. An electronic anti-hangfire system uses a single proximity switch and the already existing parts and motions of the gun.

A compact 50 caliber machine gun system which utilizes an original Browning rear-stripping ammunition link design. The chain-driven machine gun system features a delinker assembly configured to receive a belt of linked cartridges, separate each of the cartridge from the belt rearwardly, and feed each of the cartridges for firing. The delinking function is separated from the motion of the bolt assembly so as to reduce the overall length of the gun system. The receiver has a receiver mounting length RML from the rear base of each incoming cartridge in a belt of connected links to the rear end of the receiver that is less than 15 inches. A shuttle feed system is incorporated into the basic chain gun style mechanism which had been limited to a sprocket feed on all previous designs. An electronic anti-hangfire system uses a single proximity switch and the already existing parts and motions of the gun.

A feeder and delinker for use in a gatling gun, the gatling gun comprising a plurality of gun barrels rotatably mounted in a ring, the feeder and delinker comprising: a housing, a drive gear rotationally coupled to the gun barrels rotatably mounted in the ring, the drive gear extending through the housing; a push rod guide and a plurality of push rods oriented parallel to the gun barrels rotatably mounted in the ring. The push rods being slidably received within a corresponding plurality of longitudinal grooves within the push rod guide, the push rod guide being rotationally coupled to the drive gear, at least one of the push rod guide or push rods comprising a friction reducer located between the push-rod and push rod guide, the push rod guide and the plurality of push rods and the shaft being mounted within the housing.

A compact 50 caliber machine gun system which utilizes an original Browning rear-stripping ammunition link design. The chain-driven machine gun system features a delinker assembly configured to receive a belt of linked cartridges, separate each of the cartridge from the belt rearwardly, and feed each of the cartridges for firing. The delinking function is separated from the motion of the bolt assembly so as to reduce the overall length of the gun system. The receiver has a receiver mounting length RML from the rear base of each incoming cartridge in a belt of connected links to the rear end of the receiver that is less than 15 inches. A shuttle feed system is incorporated into the basic chain gun style mechanism which had been limited to a sprocket feed on all previous designs. An electronic anti-hangfire system uses a single proximity switch and the already existing parts and motions of the gun.

A compact 50 caliber machine gun system which utilizes an original Browning rear-stripping ammunition link design. The chain-driven machine gun system features a delinker assembly configured to receive a belt of linked cartridges, separate each of the cartridge from the belt rearwardly, and feed each of the cartridges for firing. The delinking function is separated from the motion of the bolt assembly so as to reduce the overall length of the gun system. The receiver has a receiver mounting length RML from the rear base of each incoming cartridge in a belt of connected links to the rear end of the receiver that is less than 15 inches. A shuttle feed system is incorporated into the basic chain gun style mechanism which had been limited to a sprocket feed on all previous designs. An electronic anti-hangfire system uses a single proximity switch and the already existing parts and motions of the gun.

A method of feeding rounds of linked, or un-linked, ammunition to a gun includes a motor-driven chain drive which rotates about a track. A rotatable feeder engages the ammunition to feed an ammunition round into a round extractor/retractor. A rotatable round positioner receives an ammunition round from the round extractor/retractor, and rotates it to a firing position. A main geneva wheel, mounted near the chain drive, is sequentially engaged by first and second drive rollers, secured to the chain drive, for being periodically rotated thereby. Drive pins of the main geneva wheel sequentially engage radial slots in a belt/round feed geneva wheel and a round positioning geneva wheel for timed rotation thereof to synchronize the operation of the round feeder and round positioner.